So, How Many 2009 Wishes Came True ?

Last year, exactly 365 days ago, I wrote a post which contained my "2009 Wishes for Golf". I could think of no more appropriate way to close out the year than to look back on a select few of these wishes and see how many came true..so without further adieu, I will turn this over to Bushwood's Magic Genie - aka "G-Money" (his replies follow in quotes):

(1) For the LPGA, I wished:

• Great performances by marquee players - " Sorry, maybe next time"
• Stability among the sponsors - - "No prob, among those who hung around" - Fail..
• A replacement for Carolyn Bivens - " SCORE !!! Wish granted..."

(2) For the PGA

• Sponsor stability - "Sorry, it's the economy stupid - and we gotta use the TARP funds to pay them bankers their bonuses".
• A quick recovery for Tiger - "Well he recovered all right...but a funny thing happened on the way out of the driveway"...
• Early wins for some of the players we wish were BCC members (Boo, AK,DLIII,Bubba,JB, IP,Shark, Rocco): "Complete strikeout"
• Solid performance at a major by Kenny Perry - "Almost,kimosabe...almost - #18 at August was just too cruel to KP"

(3) For Sergio, some humility and class: "How about a really crappy season and an injured claw at the very end ? Karma is a bitch, el nino...so get some manners or u will have a worse 2010"..

(4) For Michelle Wie, a focus on the LPGA, some solid results, and some space from the 'rents: "Well, you played better,won your first event, and did not seem to make references to the PGA tour - so thats a SCORE. It looked like you were getting some distance from the helicopter duo,but the moment you won,BJ practically ripped the trophy from your hands and did a lap around the 18th green. Two words of advice - patricide now"

(5) For the “twentysomething golf blogger” – a return trip to TGC Amateur Nationals- hope to see you there. "Wish granted - although we both played better, there's still room to get better"

(6)For Amber Prange : Early success in the Spring events - "Not so much early success came your way,but you played in an LPGA event AND got full playing privlieges on the Duramed Futures tour in 2010 - so I'd call that SCORE".

All in all, we should not be surprised or complain....because just like in golf, sometimes we got the break and our wish was granted, and other times we "lipped out". We have lots to be thankful for, and lots to look forward to in 2010. Happy New Year to all of the BCC members and readers !

Ever wonder why people don't like Sergio ??? Your wait is over...

Readers of this blog know that while I recognize Sergio Garcia's talent, I have little patience for his antics and constant whining. I've read countless articles touting his new found "maturity" and how "winning The Players changed him"... One of my favorite bloggers is a big fan of his, so I try doubly hard to gain some respect for him. Now comes the latest from an interview he did with the Mirror in which he makes the following statements regarding the USA's thrashing of the Euros in the Ryder Cup.

"The US team played their cards well," he said. "They knew where the pins were going to be and the tees and we didn't. The locker-room we had was really, really small and uncomfortable. I wish it had been even half the size of theirs. We had two showers, one next to a toilet."

"At the opening ceremony they played my anthem twice, once when the Spanish flag was raised and once when the Swedish flag was raised."

- Garcia claimed captain Nick Faldo's speech at the opening ceremony had been "too long" and said Europe had needed more than one vice-captain.

Read the entire article for a full on belly laugh. It's sad, because as a hacker, I REALLY admire his iron game and think he has exceptional talent - but when he opens his mouth, he loses me completely. However, in my newfound spirit of brotherhood, I made some special wishes for Sergio - see my post of Jan. 1, 2009 for these. I know you aren't playing for us Yanks to "like you" Sergio, but we buy your sponsor's gear, watch you on TV, and (some of of us) cheer when you win - so for the love of man, PLEASE quit whining and lose with same class as you win with...

Oh, and no more spitting in the cup in 2009, ok ?

Ryder Cup - Final Thoughts

WOW !!!!

Well, first things first....you heard it here first - I correctly predicted a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 victory for the USA, as well as being pretty darn near perfect in my assessment of who would be a stud and who would be a dud. Attending the event in person was an incredible treat, and something I will never forget. In keeping with the nature of my previous Ryder Cup posts, I will share my observations in sort of a "free association" manner (primarily because I was unable to even take in a microcassette recorder due to the security dudes - so I did not even write stuff down)

- From the very start of the matches on Friday, you could feel in the air that something was different. The USA players all seemed confident and relaxed - and perhaps most important really comfortable with each other. Even the fans seemed to sense it.
- Similarly, the Euros seemed tense (except for Poulter, who seemed ready to prove to EVERYONE that he was a force to be reckoned with). We followed Sergio and Westwood for a while, and neither of them ever seemed comfortable. And believe me, the fans were extremely nice to ALL players.
- The Euro fans were very cool - they cheered hard for their team, but I heard no whining or bitching. We watched the shots coming into #3 on Saturday morning with a large group of Euro fans (aka eFans) who, just like us, cheered all the good shots and lamented the poor ones. If diplomacy were this easy...
- The Euro WAGS (wives and girlfriends) were, uh, hot.... I've gotta give it to them in this category, they won the prize here. They too seemed pretty nice, often chatting with the USA WAGS.
- The course was really set up for scoring, and the greens were super receptive. Approaches stuck like they were hitting flypaper.
- This is less obvious on TV - but at least for this week, put one of the Pros inside 70 yards with a wedge and they will stick it inside of 5 feet...I cannot count how many times we watched this happen on par 5s and short par 4s - but it was ridiculous...
- During the foursomes and fourballs, watching live on the course, you just don't see very much golf action. And with 40,000 spectators onsite, once the groups pass whatever hole you are on, you will be hard pressed to find another good viewing spot. Best case is to catch a few holes on the front side, dash to the back side and catch a few others...and set the TIVO before you leave home.
- JB Holmes really DOES hit it that far...and man, when he catches it just right, it is RIDICULOUS. His warm up is like watching the fuse burn down on a box of Y. Lee Coyote's dynamite...
- Par 5 #7 - Amazing observation (this is where Sergio rinsed two on Sunday) - At least 80% of the time, the players who hit the best tee shots on this hole selected an iron for their approach to the green....and fed the pond. Equally amazing - the players whose drives were further back down the fairway selected hybrids (or in Perry's case when playing Furyk's drive) a 3 wood - and the same 80% landed safely on terra firma....go figure
- Lost all respect for Lee Westwood after his attack on Boo Weekly on Friday. What a whiny,sniveling, prissy a$$ loser he revealed himself to be. Dude - you had you a$$ handed to you....man up and accept it.
- Not sure how to explain this, but Sergio showed little heart all week. He was thoroughly dominated by AK on Sunday, but even when he was halving matches earlier in the competition, he just did not seem to have it all there.
- Ian Poulter....my pick for the next Euro to win a major (Sorry Sergio,Lee,Justin, et al....). I was completely impressed with Ian, and would defend his celebration to the end. His antics, just like Boo's were genuine,honest, from the heart, and impossible not to admire...tip of the hat, er visor, to IP.
- AK - After being a little offput earlier this year by his cockiness, I admit that I was wrong. This kid is the REAL DEAL, and I am officially a fan.
- Ryder Cup gear - Don't bother....they sell it in any PGA Tour shop in most airports across the USA...and the selection was disappointing.
- Nick Faldo - Hard to fault him...his captain's picks played well, I thought his pairings were thoughtfully assembled, and he kept his wits. The USA team just flat out played better. He has to be disappointed by his big 3 (Sergio,Paddy, and Westwood) - none of whom got it done.
- GREAT story for Kenny Perry and JB Holmes, both of whom were stronger than a shot of Kentucky rye whiskey on Sunday. Hats off to both of them.

All told, I was very proud of how the players and fans from BOTH teams behaved (except for the aforementioned whining). It was a great competition, and I hope I can attend another one someday.